In the USA, experiments initiated with a promise that AIDS would be eradicated have ended in a disappointment. The trials of the vaccine produced have been stopped due to an unlucky failure. HIV virus causing AIDS has been communicated to volunteers vaccinated.
TRENTON- In the statement made by the authorities of Merck&Co firm realizing the experiments, it has been declared that vaccination of the volunteers joining in the international experimental studies partially financed by the USA National Health Institutions has been terminated. Authorities said that of 741 volunteers who were vaccinated by a limitted dosage, 24 ones; and of 762 persons vaccinated by a full dosage, 21 ones have been caught by the virus.
The experimental studies named STEP were initiated in December 2004 and since then it has been implemented by three thousands volunteers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Dominic Republic, Haiti, Peru, Puerto Rico and the USA.
The volunteers did not carry HIV at the beginning of the experiments. But all of them were selected among those who belonged to high-risk group such as homosexual males or prostitutes.
Such informative studies as telling about using condom and other protection ways have been realized. However some of these sujets have caught the virus in their daily lives from others but the vaccine both could not perevet them from contracting the virus and when they were caught by HIV, it was not observed that the vaccine did not ensure their feeling better.
Keith Gottesdiener, group president of Merck firm responsible for infectious diseases and vaccine research, has stated that ‘such a result is fairly disappointing’. Gottesdiener has said a great-scale study aiming at fighting against HIV could not reach its target.
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